Superman flies and has X-ray vision. Spiderman can sling webs and swing from building to building. Wolverine has the ability to heal himself. And a killer manicure.

You may not know this but I have a superpower, too. It comes out at odd times and it benefits no one but myself, but I’m still proud of it.

My superpower is recognizing celebrity voices.

I can hear you gasping in awe. I know, I know… I possess an enviable superpower that many would kill for. I’m sorry but it’s something one is born with; it cannot be taught. But rest assured, I vow never to use it for evil purposes, only for good.

Like some superheroes, I didn’t realize I possessed my power until well into adulthood. I vividly remember my moment of awakening, during the broadcast of documentary filmmaker Ken Burns’ “Baseball.” The film contains a number of on-camera interviews with historians, baseball players and baseball fans. The film also features statements and testimonials from characters voiced by actors. As voices accompanied archival footage or photographs, I remember thinking, “That’s John Cusack’s voice. That’s Amy Madigan’s voice. That’s Jason Robards’ voice.” The program’s end credits confirmed my suspicions.

And thus my superpower was born.

Over the years, I’m sure I’ve annoyed loved ones and friends alike when they’re in my vicinity while watching television commercials. Hey, there’s Jon Hamm shilling for Mercedes! That’s David Duchovny pitching Pedigree dog biscuits. Is that Gene Hackman I hear suggesting we build something together at Lowes? Donald Sutherland wants me to buy a Volvo!

Animated films are trickier because you’re looking at a cartoon character that sounds familiar but looks completely different from the actual voice actor. I’d often lose track of the plot because I was so focused on trying to identify the celebrity voices in the cast. I’d be disappointed if I couldn’t figure out all the voices by the time the credits rolled (Darn! Brad Garrett? Who knew?).

I know some of you may be thinking, “Hey, I have that same superpower, too!” Let me assure you, being able to identify the voice of James Earl Jones doesn’t place you in the same category. It would be tough to find someone who couldn’t identify Darth Vader’s voice, even if it’s not saying, “This is CNN.” And Will Lyman, the voice of the PBS documentary series “Frontline,” doesn’t count, either. The minute I hear his dulcet tones, I envision stories of governments crumbling and conspiracies being forged.

My superpower isn’t limited to celebrity voices. Any voice I’ve heard once is instantly familiar the next time I hear it. A woman in my Bible study last year sounded incredibly familiar, though I knew we had never met. As it turned out, her sister was in my Bible study group two years before and their voices sounded nearly identical.

Page 2 of 2 - I don’t know whether it’s the cadence, the timbre or the pitch, but whenever I hear a familiar voice, my power kicks in and immediately tries to match the sound with the database in my brain. I’m like the Henry Higgins of voice recognition: instead of identifying regions of accents, I’m deciphering the fine nuances between Adam Arkin’s voice and that of his father, Alan Arkin.

It seems only fitting that I would marry someone with a complementary superpower: He’s Facial Recognition Man. Watching movies and television together, he’ll spy a vaguely familiar face and suddenly start sputtering, “Hey, see that guy! He played the husband in that 1969 Alka Seltzer commercial.” Or, “Hey, that girl was the friend of the husband of the girl in that movie we saw 15 years ago.” A quick check of the Internet Movie Database usually confirms his suspicions. Imagine going to the movies with the two of us? My friend Carrie has the superpower of being able to instantly recognize continuity issues within movies. If a character’s coffee cup is in the wrong place from scene to scene, she sees it. Together, the three of us could probably clear a movie theater within minutes of the opening credits. Call us “The Annoying Trio.”

You may be wondering what happens when Facial Recognition Man and Vocal Recognition Girl marry and have children? The result is children who turn to their parents and say, “Hey? Isn’t that the same voice of Mermaid Man on SpongeBob?” Or, “Isn’t that the same guy who played Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies?”

I reiterate: it cannot be learned. But it is hereditary.

Laura Anderson is a wife and mother who writes about life from her home in Hanover. She considers all incidents with family, friends and strangers fair game for her column.